Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has urged the club to beat Manchester United in a transfer battle to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen - and also ensure that midfielder Mason Mount does not leave the club for Old Trafford amid recent links for the 24-year-old.
Graham Potter's side have been the most active team in the last two transfer windows, spending more than half-a-billion pounds as Todd Boehly looked to put his own imprint on the club following his takeover in 2022. However, it has not yet borne results with Potter under increasing pressure following a dismal run of form.
The Blues have scored just one goal in their last six games in all competitions, and only four since the turn of the year in 11 matches. Despite adding the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix and Noni Madueke in attack, the problems have not alleviated in front of goal.
READ MORE: Why Ben Chilwell vented fury to Graham Potter as Chelsea set to miss Thiago Silva's genius
Questions remain over what decisions will be made in the summer, too, with former club-record signing Romelu Lukaku due to return to Stamford Bridge from his loan at Inter and Christopher Nkunku likely to join the attack. However, there is another attacker in Serie A that has been in fine form.
Osimhen has scored 19 goals in the league to fire Napoli to top spot in the table, 18 points clear of Lukaku's Inter in second place. The Nigeria international looks to be courting interest from a number of clubs, with both Chelsea and Manchester United linked to the 24-year-old.
And Petit says Osimhen would be the ideal candidate to break the "striker's curse" at Stamford Bridge. The World Cup winner says the striker's physical attributes, confidence and clinical nature are even reminiscent of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba.
"If I was Chelsea, I would go for Osimhen over the likes of Marcus Thuram," Petit told Premier League Odds. "You know there is a striker’s curse at Chelsea but someday this will be broken and he could do it.
"I have followed Osimhen since he played for Lille and he was already a very good striker. Since he left for Italy, where the pressure is very high and the fans are passionate, he's played brilliantly.
"They have so much pace in their game and he is physical, clinical and very confident about his quality. If Chelsea can bring in Osimhen, that’d be very good for them.
"He reminds me of Drogba somewhat. He certainly possesses the same qualities as him."
Elsewhere in the squad, Mount has been linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge with talks over a new contract stalling as his current deal expires in 2024. Talks have been taking place over an extension, but football.london understands a key stumbling block has been the length of the contract offered.
Mount has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United in recent weeks, and GiveMeSport claim that the attacker is "definitely appreciated by people within the club" at Old Trafford. Petit says Chelsea have to avoid putting "everything in the rubbish bin" in regards to Mount's development at Stamford Bridge, and do their utmost to keep him at the club.
"Chelsea should try their best to keep Mount," Petit added. "I know he’s been linked with some big clubs, but taking away this season, he has been remarkable and he’s grown up with the club.
"He was developing into a brilliant midfield player, with goals and assists, and I think this year has been a transition year for Chelsea - so don’t put everything in a rubbish bin.
"He’s one of the last English players in the dressing room, too, which is very important for the fans. Chelsea should not make a stupid decision to sell Mount, he should stay at Chelsea."
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